As expected, the shortlist is packed with standout performers who lit up the pitch with goals, grit, and game-changing moments.

From strikers who couldn’t stop scoring, to midfielders running the show, and managers quietly masterminding statement results September had it all.

Player of the Month Nominees

Six names make up this month’s roll call of excellence, led by Manchester City’s unstoppable hitman Erling Haaland.

1. Erling Haaland (Man City)

No surprises here. Haaland smashed in five goals in September — three more than anyone else — and had a hand in six goals overall, pushing his tally to eight for the campaign.

2. Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace)

Kamada has been the heartbeat of Oliver Glasner’s unbeaten Palace side. In September, he created five chances, won 17 duels, and bossed games against Sunderland, West Ham, and Liverpool.

3. Yankuba Minteh (Brighton)

The Gambian winger made a statement with a goal or assist in every game he played this month. His highlights include a smart assist in the 2-1 loss to Bournemouth, a goal in a thrilling 2-2 with Spurs, and another assist in Brighton’s 3-1 win at Chelsea.

4. Robin Roefs (Sunderland)

Newly promoted Sunderland owe a lot to their goalkeeper. The Dutchman kept two clean sheets, made 13 saves (second-most in the league), and was crucial in the Black Cats’ unbeaten September, which included draws against Palace and Villa, and a win over Forest.

5. Granit Xhaka (Sunderland)

At 33, Xhaka is proving age is just a number. The midfielder set up both of Sunderland’s goals in September, won 23 duels, and added steel and creativity to the side’s remarkable return season.

6. Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal)

The Spaniard enjoyed a breakthrough month, scoring his first Premier League goals. He netted a brilliant volley against Forest and followed it up with a rare brace a header sealing Arsenal’s 3-0 win.

 

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Manager of the Month Nominees

The dugout also had its heroes. Four coaches stood out for masterminding results that have reshaped the early table.

1. Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)

Arteta’s Gunners stayed strong, crushing Forest 3-0, battling to a late draw with Man City, and edging Newcastle late on results that pushed Arsenal up to second.

2. Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace)

Palace remain the league’s only unbeaten side, thanks to Glasner’s sharp touch. September saw a gritty 0-0 with Sunderland, before back-to-back wins over West Ham and Liverpool sent a message to the rest of the league.

3. Pep Guardiola (Man City)

City turned on the style yet again, scoring nine and conceding just two in September. A dominant 3-0 derby win over Manchester United, a tough 1-1 draw at Arsenal, and a 5-1 demolition of Burnley showed Pep’s men mean business.

4. Regis Le Bris (Sunderland)

The surprise package. Le Bris’ Sunderland defied the odds with an unbeaten September, ending the month in fifth.

They conceded just once even while playing with 10 men in a 1-1 draw at Villa held Palace to a stalemate, and edged Forest away from home.

 

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September’s nominees show just how competitive this Premier League season is shaping up to be with familiar names like Haaland doing what they do best, and fresh stories like Sunderland’s fairytale rise keeping fans on their toes.

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Clubs across Europe splashed unprecedented sums, with total spending reaching a staggering €10.23 billion, a new record.

Unsurprisingly, the Premier League once again dominated the headlines, accounting for more than €3.5 billion of that total.

No club captured attention quite like Liverpool. In what was described as a full-scale squad rebuild, the Reds secured Alexander Isak from Newcastle for a British record of £125 million, surpassing the fee Chelsea paid for Moisés Caicedo in 2023.

The Merseyside giants also added German star Florian Wirtz, striker Hugo Ekitiké, and flying full-back Jeremie Frimpong, making them the undisputed biggest spenders of the window. Despite earning €220 million from player sales, their net spend of €262 million was the second-highest across Europe.

If Liverpool dominated the headlines, Arsenal topped the financial charts. The Gunners invested heavily in attacking reinforcements, bringing in Viktor Gyökeres and Eberechi Eze, among others, while spending a total of €293.5m. With only €10.3m recouped in sales, they closed the window with the highest net spend of all clubs at €283.2m.

Manchester United also strengthened their front line, completing deals for Benjamin Šeško, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha. Chelsea, meanwhile, added João Pedro to their ranks but sanctioned a major outgoing as Nicolas Jackson joined Bayern Munich on a high-profile loan with an obligation to buy.

The Blues were once again Europe’s most successful sellers, generating €332m in player sales, over €100m more than any other club. Their standout departure was Noni Madueke, who sealed a €56m move to Arsenal.

The surprises weren’t limited to England. Liverpool captain Trent Alexander-Arnold left Anfield for Real Madrid, a move that stunned supporters and pundits alike. In Turkey, Victor Osimhen pulled off one of the most unexpected switches of the window, leaving Napoli for Galatasaray in a deal worth around €65m.

Meanwhile, newly promoted Sunderland made waves by spending €160m to bolster their squad. Their shopping list included striker Brian Brobbey and experienced midfielder Granit Xhaka, signaling serious intent to compete at the highest level.

The 2025 transfer market will be remembered not just for its eye-watering figures but for the boldness of the moves made. The three most expensive signings of the summer all belonged to Liverpool: Isak, Wirtz, and Ekitiké, underscoring the club’s ambition to remain at Europe’s summit.

Elsewhere, Arsenal’s financial gamble, Chelsea’s sales dominance, and the shock departures of household names like Alexander-Arnold and Osimhen highlighted the increasingly unpredictable nature of modern football.

As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the 2025/26 season is shaping up to be as dramatic on the pitch as it was off it.

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• Ex-Arsenal star Granit Xhaka seals shock £17m transfer to Sunderland as Bayer Leverkusen ignore Erik ten Hag plea

In a surprising twist, former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has returned to the Premier League, signing for newly promoted Sunderland in a £17 million move from Bayer Leverkusen.

The 31-year-old Swiss international penned a three-year deal with the Black Cats after two successful seasons in Germany, where he played a key role in Leverkusen’s historic Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double.

Xhaka’s return comes despite efforts by Leverkusen manager Erik ten Hag, who was reportedly keen to keep the experienced midfielder, warning that his departure could “undermine the structure and culture of the squad.”

 

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The Swiss star now joins a growing list of high-profile exits from Leverkusen this summer, alongside Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, and Jonathan Tah.

With 225 Premier League appearances under his belt from his time at Arsenal, Xhaka brings proven top-flight experience to the Stadium of Light as Sunderland gear up for life back in the elite division.

 

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Speaking to the club’s media team after the announcement, Xhaka said:

“I’m very proud to be here. When I spoke to the club, I was excited and I felt the energy, and the mentality that all the people and players have. It’s exactly what I wanted, and I have a very good feeling. We are back to where this club needs to be, and we want to stay here to write our own history. I feel that I’m ready to help the team with my experience but with quality as well.”

He will don the No. 34 shirt at Sunderland and is expected to join up with his new teammates in pre-season ahead of their opening Premier League fixture against West Ham United on August 16.

Sunderland AFC is delighted to announce the signing of Granit Xhaka, who joins on a three-year deal from Bayer 04 Leverkusen! ❤️✍️

— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) July 30, 2025

 

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The 30 players vying for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, which honors the best male player in the world over the past season, have been announced.

Real Madrid stars Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior are the leading contenders, with either potentially becoming only the fifth different winner in the last 17 years, following two decades of dominance by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Both Bellingham and Vinicius had outstanding seasons, helping Real Madrid secure La Liga and the Champions League titles, with Bellingham scoring 23 goals and Vinicius 24.

However, their hopes for international success fell short, with Bellingham’s England losing in the Euro 2024 final and Vinicius’ Brazil underperforming in the Copa America.

Other top contenders include Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Nico Williams, and Lamine Yamal, all of whom will be aiming for high placements in the final rankings.

Notably, many expected Messi to be nominated after leading Argentina to another Copa America victory, but the 37-year-old did not make the shortlist. Ronaldo was also left out for the second consecutive year, marking the first time in 21 years that neither has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or.

Ballon d’or 2024 nominees

• Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid/England
• Ruben Dias – Man City/Portugal
• Phil Foden – Man City/England
• Federico Valverde – Real Madrid/Uruguay
• Emiliano Martinez – Aston Villa/Argentina
• Erling Haaland – Man City/Norway
• Nico Williams – Athletic Club/Spain
• Granit Xhaka – Bayer Leverkusen/Switzerland
• Artem Dovbyk – Girona/Roma/Ukraine
• Toni Kroos – Real Madrid/Germany
• Vinicius Junior – Real Madrid/Brazil
• Dani Olmo – RB Leipzig/Barcelona/Spain
• Florian Wirtz – Bayer Leverkusen/Germany

They're all here!

But… who should win it? #ballondor pic.twitter.com/SrkHBrJtuI

— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) September 4, 2024

• Martin Odegaard – Arsenal/Norway
• Mats Hummels – Borussia Dortmund/Roma/Germany
• Rodri – Man City/Spain
• Harry Kane – Bayern Munich/England
• Declan Rice- Arsenal/England
• Vitinha – PSG/Portugal
• Cole Palmer – Chelsea/England
• Dani Carvajal – Real Madrid/Spain
• Lamine Yamal – Barcelona/Spain
• Bukayo Saka – Arsenal/England
• Hakan Calhanoglu – Inter/Turkey
• William Saliba – Arsenal/France
• Kylian Mbappe – PSG/Real Madrid/France
• Lautaro Martinez – Inter/Argentina
• Ademola Lookman – Atalanta/Nigeria
• Antonio Rudiger – Real Madrid/Germany
• Alejandro Grimaldo – Bayer Leverkusen/Spain

Here's the full recap of the 2024 Men's Ballon d'Or nominees!#ballondor pic.twitter.com/B9AG4nrc0N

— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) September 4, 2024

When is the Ballon d’Or 2024 winner announced?

The Ballon d’Or will be presented to the best male player on 28 October at the annual ceremony at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.

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Former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has delivered an inspiring message to the Gunners as they approach the climax of their Premier League title battle.

Throughout the season, Arsenal has been engaged in a fierce contest for the Premier League crown, locked in a tight battle with both Liverpool and Manchester City. With just five matchdays remaining in the captivating season, Xhaka, the former Arsenal captain, has imparted words of encouragement to the youthful Arsenal squad.

Speaking to the media, the former Gunner said [via The Mirror]: “This is part of the game, I think it was 10 or 11 games unbeaten. When you lose one game, it doesn’t mean you lost everything already.

“There are six games left in the Premier League and there is still a big chance to get the Premier League title. I wish them all the best for sure because I am still in contact with the staff and players and also still watching the games.

“Can Arsenal win the title? I hope so because the team, the staff and the football club as well deserve to win trophies. They are very close this year as well like it was last year but football is about small details. I hope they can do it.”

Following his departure from Arsenal last summer for £21.4 million ($26.5 million), Granit Xhaka made a significant impact at Bayer Leverkusen, contributing to their triumphant Bundesliga campaign. Xhaka played a pivotal role as Die Werkself clinched the Bundesliga title unbeaten, dethroning Bayern Munich for the first time since the 2012/13 season.

As Arsenal gears up for a crucial Premier League encounter against Wolves on Saturday, April 20, Xhaka’s message serves as a reminder of the importance of unity and determination in the title race. The Gunners are poised to seize the opportunity to narrow the gap between themselves and Manchester City, who currently lead the standings by two points.

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Bayer Leverkusen has etched their name in history by clinching their inaugural Bundesliga title with a resounding 5-0 victory over Werder Bremen on Sunday.

Heading into the weekend’s match, Xabi Alonso’s side required just one more win to secure the BuLi title, given their remarkable form throughout the 2023–24 campaign. Leverkusen remained undefeated both domestically and in continental competitions.

🔴⚫️🏆 Bayer Leverkusen win the Bundesliga title for the FIRST time in their history!

74 goals scored, 19 goals conceded, ZERO defeats.

Insane job by Xabi Alonso and this group of fantastic players.

Congratulations, @bayer04fussball! ✨ pic.twitter.com/CMHErGMKb2

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 14, 2024

True to form, Leverkusen dominated the game at the Bay Arena, securing the win with goals from Victor Boniface, Granit Xhaka, and a sensational hat-trick from Florian Wirtz.

The breakthrough came in the 23rd minute, when Leverkusen earned a penalty following a foul by Jonas Hofmann in the box. Victor Boniface calmly converted from the spot, slotting the ball low into the net.

Leverkusen nearly doubled their lead late in the first half as Yacine Adli rattled the crossbar with a powerful effort after a clever cross from Hofmann.

In the 60th minute, Leverkusen extended their lead with a stunning goal from Granit Xhaka, who expertly curled the ball into the top corner from 30 yards out.

Der Fußballgott stimmt an:
📢 𝑫𝒆𝒖𝒕𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒇𝒕 🎶

Florian #Wirtz | #DeutscherMeisterSV pic.twitter.com/WT7Qv89DOA

— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04fussball) April 14, 2024

Shortly after, Florian Wirtz showcased his brilliance by adding a third goal, unleashing a fierce shot into the roof of the net from outside the penalty area.

Wirtz completed his hat-trick late in the game, delighting the Bay Arena faithful with two more goals, sealing Leverkusen’s historic Bundesliga triumph.

This triumph marks Bayer Leverkusen’s first-ever league title, following five previous instances of finishing as runners-up. The achievement holds particular significance, echoing their memorable campaign in 2001/02, when a team led by Michael Ballack reached the finals of the UEFA Champions League and DFB-Pokal.

With the title secured, Alonso’s side now sets their sights on a potential treble this season. Leverkusen has already secured a spot in the DFB-Pokal final, where they will face 1. FCK, and are poised to advance to the UEFA Europa League semi-finals after a commanding 2-0 victory over West Ham in the first leg of their quarter-final tie.

JAAAAAA! 🥹🖤🔴 #DeutscherMeisterSVB pic.twitter.com/EktgGLIcta

— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04fussball) April 14, 2024

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Granit Xhaka remains cautious despite Bayer Leverkusen’s commanding 10-point lead at the summit of the Bundesliga, drawing from his past experiences at Arsenal.

Xhaka has been instrumental in Leverkusen’s impressive undefeated march towards potentially securing their maiden Bundesliga title this season. With Die Werkself comfortably ahead of Bayern Munich, their closest pursuers, Xhaka remains vigilant, mindful of the possibility of a late-season collapse – a scenario reminiscent of his time at Arsenal. Last season, Xhaka witnessed Arsenal squander a significant lead, allowing Manchester City to swoop in and clinch the title.

Speaking to ESPN after Sunday’s 2-0 win over 10-man Koln, Xhaka said: “We should be proud of our position but nothing is won yet – I am speaking from my own experience of last season [at Arsenal]. We had a similar points advantage over the team in second and we did not win the league, so I know this experience and I have shared it with the dressing room. Ten points is a lot when you have 10 games left, but there are still 30 points left to take so it is not over.”

In the 2022-23 season, Arsenal had surged ahead of Manchester City by eight points at one juncture before succumbing to a late-season collapse. Remarkably, the Gunners occupied the top spot for 248 days throughout the campaign, setting a Premier League record for the longest time at the summit without ultimately clinching the title.

Given this history, Granit Xhaka is determined to avoid a similar fate with Bayer Leverkusen. Leverkusen widened their lead at the Bundesliga summit to 10 points with a victory over Koln, following Bayern Munich’s draw with Freiburg on Friday night. Manager Xabi Alonso’s impressive leadership has garnered admiration, attracting interest from clubs like Liverpool and Bayern Munich.

Having maintained an undefeated streak all season, Leverkusen remains in contention for silverware on three fronts. Their focus now shifts to the Europa League, with a challenging fixture against Qarabag awaiting them in Azerbaijan for the last 16 first leg.

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Granit Xhaka denied claims that his partner’s desire to leave England motivated his switch from Arsenal to Bayer Leverkusen.

After a stellar season for the Gunners, in which he helped them finish second and qualify for the Champions League, Xhaka agreed to a €25 million transfer to North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany.

As Mikel Arteta reorganizes his midfield in preparation for the 2023–24 season, Declan Rice might be signed by Arsenal for a British transfer record sum at the time of his departure.

There have been allegations that Xhaka, 30, left because his wife was unhappy in England, but he has refuted that theory.

Xhaka told Keystone-SDA: “There was speculation everywhere that my wife was no longer happy in England. That is not at all true.

“The fact is that as a person I am always interested in new challenges. After seven years, the time has come for something completely new.

“The league is not new, but the club is. During the talks with Simon Rolfes [sporting director] and Xabi Alonso, I felt that the long-term project at Leverkusen was worthwhile and that it was 100% in line with me.”

By joining Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, the Switzerland international ended a seven-year, inconsistent run with the Arsenal. He made 297 appearances for the north London team, twice winning the FA Cup, and registered 23 goals.

After being shunned by Unai Emery after storming off the field and losing the club leadership in 2019, Xhaka won over Arsenal fans by developing into a crucial component under Mikel Arteta.

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According to reports, Granit Xhaka’s move from Arsenal to Bayer Leverkusen will be confirmed imminently.

The Swiss international has had his greatest season in England over the past two seasons, helping his team finish fifth and second in the Premier League, after first becoming something of a pariah at the Gunners.

Xhaka’s approach during the 2022–23 season had impressed Arsenal, who wanted to keep him, but the midfielder walked away from contract negotiations and was later informed that he may leave north London this summer.

Xhaka’s contract with Arsenal had one year remaining, but it will soon be official that he has joined Bayer Leverkusen.

The Bundesliga team, who finished sixth in 2022–23, put together a deal for the 30-year-old who scored 23 goals in 297 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners.

As they prepare for life without Jude Bellingham, Borussia Dortmund had already considered a deal for Xhaka, and Borussia Monchengladbach was also interested in reconnecting with their former player.

As Arsenal prepares to welcome Declan Rice, a standout for West Ham and England, to the Emirates, Xhaka will depart.

Arsenal will pay £105 million for the winner of the Europa Conference League, making him the most expensive player in British football ever. The two clubs have agreed on a payment mechanism.

Rivals Manchester City had earlier put out a £90 million plan, but withdrew after the Arsenal overtook them with a nine-figure offer.

The addition of Rice would enhance Arsenal’s successful summer thus far. While Aaron Ramsdale, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Bukayo Saka just received new contracts, Chelsea added Kai Havertz.

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Granit Xhaka claimed that Mikel Arteta is “more than the right manager” for Arsenal and asked supporters not to forget the effort put in by the team over the previous year in the aftermath of their aborted bid for the Premier League title.

A 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest on Saturday ended the Gunners’ chances of winning the top-flight championship, as Manchester City was crowned champion for the sixth time in six years.

Throughout the season, Arsenal kept the top place for an astonishing 248 days, and in March, they even enjoyed an eight-point advantage over City. They were unsuccessful in the final stretch, nevertheless, due to a late-season meltdown that featured poor outcomes against Liverpool, West Ham, Southampton, and Brighton.

Despite falling short of winning the league title, Xhaka argued that Arsenal’s improvement this year under manager Arteta should be praised and used as the basis for future success.

When asked about Arteta’s ability to lead the team’s pursuit of City in future seasons, the midfielder responded: “You can forget this question. He is more than the right manager for this team.”

While Arsenal’s form in their final eight games is cause for concern with only two wins during that period, Xhaka argued the progress made throughout the season should not be disregarded.

“We don’t need to forget how we worked for the last 11 months,” he added. “If someone told us before the season that we would be here, I think everyone would sign it. Our goal for sure was to be back in the top four. Now we are second. Of course, when you are so close to the title, you want to win the title. But we are there where we are, deserve to be where we are, and let’s see what happens next season. We have to go and do the next step.”

According to reports Xhaka is due to leave Arsenal this summer after he backed away from contract discussions, with his current deal due to expire in 2024. Bayer Leverkusen have held talks over a €15m move.

Asked about his future, he added: “You will know latest next week, for sure.

“Where I have been three years ago and where I am today, I think I grew up like a person, like a player, and I got the respect back, what I think I deserve as well from the fans.

“I think [the fans] deserve that as well and I do myself as well. We have one more week of this Premier League season, the first thing is I want to enjoy [it], and for sure you guys will know next week what happens with my future.”

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According to reports, Arsenal vice-captain Granit Xhaka is keen to extend his stay at the club, and talks have taken place over a new contract.

For the past couple of seasons, the Swiss international has successfully turned around his career with Arsenal.

After yelling at spectators during a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace at home in October 2019, he appeared to be making his way out the door. He was afterwards relieved of his leadership.

The next January, a transfer to Hertha Berlin was almost finalized, but Mikel Arteta persuaded Xhaka to reconsider and remain with the team he had joined from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2016.

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• N’Golo Kante set to extend Chelsea contract.
• Dortmund provide update on Bellingham future ahead of contract offer
• Antonio Rudiger reveals how Real Madrid rallied against Liverpool.

The 30-year-old has solidified his place among the Premier League’s midfielders by contributing significantly to their unexpected title run, and sources have confirmed that Xhaka wants to extend his stay at Emirates Stadium.

In fact, Xhaka and Arsenal have already discussed a new contract.

The present deal for Xhaka expires in the summer of 2024, though Arsenal do have the option to extend it by another year. It is believed that discussions can be wrapped up reasonably quickly because both parties are eager to reach an agreement.

Arteta has also given his seal of approval to a player who is closing in on 300 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions.

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that he threatened to axe Granit Xhaka if the midfielder refused to adapt his position at the club.

Xhaka has been vital to Arsenal’s successful first half of the season, which has seen them lead the Premier League by five points over defending champion Manchester City.

With three goals and three assists in the Premier League so far this season, the Swiss international has significantly improved in attacking areas.

Arteta claims he needed to ‘unlock’ Xhaka’s full potential in order for Arsenal to improve and suggests that the 30-year-old would have found himself out of the team if he struggled to evolve.

When asked about Xhaka’s change to a more advanced role this season, Arteta told Sky Sports: ‘I think it was a necessity.

I think the squad wanted to evolve to another level and be more dominant and have more resources in the final third to attack and to score more goals. We needed to make that change.

‘I spoke to him at the end of the season and said, ‘I need to unlock something in your brain because you’re so comfortable and confident playing in this area that you have forgot what is actually going to win us the game and the team now demands somebody here, so unless you unlock that I’m going to have to do something about it’.

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• Marcus Rashford talks about World Cup disappointment.
• Mikel Arteta provide update on Ben White after Arsenal return
• Mikel Arteta reveals Arsenal’s plans for the January transfer window.

‘He took it straight away. He’s a very intelligent player, he came to pre-season fitter than ever, slimmer than ever, and he knew that if we wanted to take the team to a different level we had to change his role. He knew that was coming.

‘We believed he has those qualities, those qualities were there to be exploited and they were hiding.

‘The team needed those qualities very much. As I said, he is extremely intelligent, he has the physical capacity to constantly threat and occupy those spaces and recover his position quickly enough to have the balance we need.

‘He’s been really consistent, the way he trains, the way he practises, to evolve to the demands we want for the team.

‘He’s a special person. He’s very straight, he’s very honest, he’s very loyal and he’s very passionate about what he does.

‘So when you have someone like that you want to help him, you want to protect him, you want him to fulfil the talent he has. He’s made some mistakes and he’s learnt from it, but he has always faced adveristy and difficulty and he’s never run away from it.

‘This is what all managers wants from their players. You know you can count on him, he will fight and break walls for you. This is what we expect from our players.’

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